A crew member went overboard from the Regal Princess cruise ship while it was sailing off Mexico’s Caribbean coast, Princess Cruises confirmed on the evening of July 13, 2026. The ship had departed Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on July 11 for a seven-day Western Caribbean itinerary.
Search and Rescue Efforts Lasted Over Eight Hours
Princess Cruises initiated an extensive search and rescue operation that lasted more than eight hours following the incident. Assistance came from another cruise ship and Mexican maritime authorities. The scheduled port call in Cozumel, Mexico, was canceled due to the ongoing search efforts while the Regal Princess retraced its route repeatedly in
the search area.
Cruise Line Communication and Support
Princess Cruises kept passengers informed throughout the incident, providing hourly updates onboard. Counseling services were made available to support passengers during and after the search. The company issued an official statement expressing condolences to the crew member’s family and confirmed it was providing support to the onboard team.
Passenger Observations During Search
Passenger David Jimenez described the search operations, noting the ship slowed down and circled the area multiple times. He said, “But after searching intensely for over eight hours, the cruise line confirmed the crew member had perished.” Jimenez also reported that no information about the crew member’s identity was
released. He mentioned that, despite the tragedy, crew and management followed established procedures and kept passengers updated every hour.
